to the resource team for review before the team
afternoon Institute for the lower counties, the
arrived in Gulfport. A dinner followed the briefing
resource team had a working dinner at which dis-
and provided an informal setting for the resource
cussion of general observations and possible next
team to meet with a number of school superintend-
steps continued.
ents and their representatives. The resource team met with representatives from The second day began with a narrated tour of
the upper counties during the morning of the third
communities affected by the hurricane. The local
day. Again, all school districts from the six upper
television station, WLOX, and Fox News joined the
counties (Pearl River, Stone, George, Lamar,
tour and interviewed some participants. The tour
Forrest, and Jones counties) were represented.
provided the team with an overview of the extent
In attendance were seven superintendents, four
of damage to the Gulf Coast communities and
assistant superintendents, a principal, a curriculum
made stops to further demonstrate the impact of
specialist, support staff, two finance directors,
the hurricane on local school facilities. A brief stop
and one maintenance director. The Institute for the
was made at the site of 56 mobile classrooms that
upper counties ended with a discussion of major
now house Pass Christian Middle and High School.
observations, concluding remarks, and suggestions
Those facilities sit on land owned by the school
for possible next steps.
district that is contiguous to the site of an elementary school—the only school left standing in that
Refer to Appendix B for a list of participants
district. Other stops included Bay-Waveland
representing the nine counties that participated
School District headquarters, Saint Martin Middle
in the Mississippi Regional School Design Institute.
School and Upper Elementary in Jackson county,
Appendix B also lists the AAF resource team
and Harper McCaughan Elementary School in
members, staff, and board member in attendance.
Long Beach. Main topics for the lower counties generally Group discussions began in the afternoon with
included locational considerations, innovative
short presentations on each topic by the resource
design solutions, and the role of public officials,
team. An extensive discussion between resource
whereas topics for the upper counties dealt with
team members and attendees followed the
accommodating an influx of students, addressing
presentations. All 12 school districts in Hancock,
the more general effects of growth, and deter-
Harrison, and Jackson counties were represented.
mining how school district officials can attract
In attendance were nine superintendents, four
and provide necessary support. Discussion guides
assistant superintendents, two principals, two
were developed for each session in consultation
finance directors, a maintenance director, and
with the GCEIC, to help frame the issues for
a school board member. Dr. Herring was also
consideration by the resource team.
present, together with Tom Clark and his assistants, Sue Durbin and Jim Carlow. An observer from
The questions listed below guided discussion.
the 21st Century Fund and AAF regent Raymond
Resource team members developed short presen-
(Skipper) Post were also present. Following the
tations on each of the topics. However, discussion
4
AAF Great Schools by Design